Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-09-03
ext moment he glanced at the fire

night is growing chilly. 1 should
not be surprised if a perfect blizzard
swept down upon us before morning.
Henry must bring in some more coal
before he %retires," he added, touch
ing the bell.
Taking up the poker he stirred the
fire briskly for a moment, and then
facing me he spelled out upon his
fingers
edo not be alarmed. 1 under
stand"
Just then Henry appeared in an
swer to his summons.
"Bring up a bucket of coal, Henry,
and if you see the Ratchet in the Gel
lar bring it along. That window in
the hall has got to rafting dolefully,
and must be frightened a little"
| breathed more freely, for both
Henry and John would have weap-
ons now. Still, / trembled for the
result of the struggle | knew was at
hand.
"Shall | drive a nail or two into
the shutter sir?" asked Henry, set
ting the coal scuttle down by the
door.
"Come in, Henry, and give me IA
lift. There is a villain behind the
bed curtains and l propose to take
care of him for the night" said John,
advancing towards the wretch's hid
ing place.
| listened for the report of the re-
volver, but, instead, out walked the
trembling culpret, and without a
word placed himself under my hus-
bands protection.
Tearing off his mask, John, eX-
claimed in amazement.
George! is it possible you have
taken to robbery and murder for a
livelyhood
Forgive me, Mr. atson," whim-
pered the coward. 81 am embar-
raised greatly, and-well, knowing
that you were in possession of such a
large amount of gold, | could not re-
sist the temptation to help myself to
a portion of it.
Coward! do you suppose that
your crime is any more excusable on
account of your circumstances? A
thief who would murder a defense
less woman for a paltry few thousand
has made a long stride in the road
toward the scaffold," John retorted,
still tightly grasping the arm of the
would-be burgler.
81 only meant to frighten her.
| had no thought of committing such
a grave offence as MURDER" he re-
piled.
"And still you expected to take
the gold at any COST" was Johns re-
ply, as he delivered the man into the
hands of an officer whom Henry had
summoned.
George Wilder was the messenger
who had been entrusted with the
gold, and heYalone knew that!lJohn
had carried it home instead of put
ting it in the safe. In fact, it came
out afterward that the fellow had
loitered by the way designedly, as
he had been dispatched with the
money in time to reach the bank be.
fore the hour for closing.
| demonstrated with John for eX'
posing him, when | learned his his
tory, but with good, P~uritanical
John a crime was a crime, no matter
by whom committed; and after all
J believe he was right, for in the tria.
it was developed that the young
! mans life would not bear close scru.
tiny. He had for many months beer
squandering his income at the gam
ing tables, and had he not been de
tected in his crooked ways a worse
fate than that melted out by justice
would surely have overtaken him.
You understand now what recon-
pense | received for my labor, and
| how my efforts to give pleasure t.
the little English mutes proved {
: benedictiOn to myself. For, not
t withstanding Wilder's denials, l an
fully convinced that nothing but
having learned to talk with my fin
: gers saved my life that terrible night
= Bread cast upon the waters may bC
long returning but in the end it new,
err fails to perform its mission.